Jan. 30, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's basketball team defeated Portland 94-90 this evening in West Coast Conference action at the Leavey Center. Julie Butler tied a career high with 23 points, as the Broncos improve to 14-5 overall, 5-1 in league play. The Pilots fall to 8-11, 2-4.
Sophomore Quinn Thomas hit four three pointers en route to 18 points for the Broncos, while senior Tammy Annas chipped in 17 and sophomore Kayla Huss 12.
Portland was led by Khalila O'Rielly-Williams' 25 points, 16 of which came in the first half. Hanna Seltzer hit four from beyond the arc to finish with 17, while Michaela Dalgleish and Ashlee Giles added 15 and 13, respectively.
Both teams showed off their offenses, as Santa Clara just outshot the Pilots 55.9 percent to 54.7. The Broncos led by as many as 13 with 2:22 remaining until halftime, but three baskets by O'Rielly-Williams reduced that lead to seven, at 43-36 during intermission.
The break didn't slow down either team, as Butler started the second half with four baskets in three minutes. Portland kept up and made it a 59-56 game. The Pilots had two possessions to tie the contest, but missed on both three-point attempts. They settled for a lay-up by Seltzer to make it a one-point contest with 13 minutes remaining.
Minutes later, Pilot Jamie Medley banked in a three from the top of the key to give Portland its first lead since the start of the game, at 63-61. Bronco reserve guard Jennifer Bradley responded with her own outside jumper to tie the game, but Portland moved ahead, and took a seven-point lead on a jumper by Dalgleish.
Butler scored seven points in just over two minutes to tie the game again, this time at 81, and then take a five-point edge for the Broncos.
The game stayed close, as the Broncos missed six free throws in the final five minutes, giving Portland hope down the stretch. Senior Kendra Rhea changed that trend, hitting two from the charity stripe with 44 seconds to give SCU a 92-88 lead. Playing the last five minutes of the game with four fouls, Rhea nevertheless remained aggressive and was rewarded by taking a charge with 20 seconds on the clock.
Giles missed a three with 10 seconds remaining that would have tied the game at 93, and the Broncos finished out scoring with an Annas free throw.
Butler, O'Reilly-Williams and Seltzer all fouled out in the final 1:14 of the game.
The Broncos remain at home and host Gonzaga on Saturday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
